Jakarta (VNA) – Deputy Chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) of Indonesia Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono emphasised the importance of enhancing ASEAN collaboration as an anchor for regional peace and balance.
Speaking at a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo on April 23, Yudhoyono said that Indonesia and Singapore must increase collaboration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an anchor for peace and balance, and maintain these good relations.
According to the official, strengthening ASEAN regional collaboration should be more focused on developing a trade and investment ecosystem, as well as supporting food and energy self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.
Yudhoyono affirmed that Indonesia needs to strengthen its diplomacy to address various geopolitical and economic challenges, as well as respond to strategic issues related to cybersecurity, global supply chains, and energy transformation. These pose both challenges and opportunities for ASEAN countries, particularly amid the current tariff wars and increasing economic tensions, he said.
He added that amid global challenges and dynamics, there is a growing urgency for Indonesia to enhance diplomacy, explore new potential, and seek more diverse cooperation opportunities.
Therefore, Indonesia needs to seek different opportunities and continue negotiations and expand strategic cooperation in the context of 'million friends and zero enemy', he stated.
In addition, Yudhoyono highlighted that Indonesia's cooperation with Singapore, as its second-largest trading partner, should be directed toward priority sectors.
He said Singapore has become Indonesia’s largest source of foreign investment for several years. In the context of geo-economics, the two countries’ cooperation needs to move towards sectors like green energy, digital economy, and high-tech industry ecosystem./.
